Target-trap.



No. 824,806. "'PATENTED JULY 3, 1906; A. M. MoGREA.

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Witnesse 1 l I I Inventor 7 .I a Httomegs PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.. A. M.MoGREA TARGET TRAP. A'PPLIO'ATION FILED JULY 30,1904.

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, Invetor,

Httornegfi figy ARTHUR M. McCREA, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 3, 1906.

Application filed July 30, 1904. Serial No. 218,904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. MOCREA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lamar, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Target-Trap, of which the followingis aspecification.

This invention relates to target-traps of that general class employedfor throwing frangible targets, and has for its principal object toprovide a trap of the most simple and economical construction which maybe operated successfully at any desired distance and in which the partswill be automatically restored to targetreceiving position after eachoperation.

A further object of the invention is to construct a novel means foroperating the throwing-arm wherein strain exerted on thepropelling-spring will at the end of a predetermined extent of movementserve to release the throwing-arm and discharge the target.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction of holding-j aw in which targets of various size may beplaced.

lVith these and other objects in view, as dll more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, andminor details of the structure may be made without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of atarget-trap constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the target-carryingjaws. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the target-carrying jaw detached.Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale andillustrating the adjustment of one of the targetclamping devices.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The trap is shown in the present instance as provided with a base 1,from which rises a standard 2, to which the main carrying-frame 3 of thetrap is pivotally connected by a bolt 4, and the bolt is provided with alockingscrew to permit clamping of the frame in any angular position towhich it may be adjusted. The support is swiveled in the base, and tothe front of the frame is secured a two-armed cross-bar 5, to which areconnected cords or chains 6, that may be operated from a distance inorder to alter the angular position of the trapthat is, to cause it toswing around. in a horizontal plane to any desired point.

From the front portion of the frame extends an obliquely-disposed casing7, having a removable cover 8, and extending through the casing in anapproximately vertical line is a shaft 8, carrying the throwing-arm 9,which is disposed at a point above the cover, and an inner arm 10, thatis concealed within the casing. To the inner arm are connected twosprings 11 and 12, the latterbeing the main operating-spring and whencontracted being of a length considerably less than the distance betweenthe arm 10 and the lowest end of the casing. This spring is connected toone end of a pull rod or cord 13, that extends through an opening in thelowest end of the casing and is guided by a pair of grooved rollers 14,so that the device may be operated from any desired position.

On one side of the throwing-arm is a bracket 15, carrying a pivoted pawl16, free to move in one direction, the arm proper forming a backing toprevent movement in the opposite direction. Slidably mounted within thecasing is a trigger-bar 18, carrying a trigger 19, that is provided witha slot 20 to permit at times the passage of the pawl 16. Thistrigger-bar 18 extends down to the lower end of the casing and has atransversely-extending arm 21, provided with an opening for the passageof the operating cord or wire 13, and the trigger is further guided by athreaded pin 22, extending through a suitable opening in the end of thecasing. Normally the trigger-bar is held upward from the end of thecasing by means of a small leaf-spring 25, and the trigger 19 is inengagement with the pawl 16, so that the throwing-arm cannot moveoutward.

At the outer end of the throwing-arm is arranged a target-clamping jaw26 in the form of an approximately U-shaped plate provided with anopening for the reception of a pivot-bolt 27, by which it is connectedto the throwing-arm. From the inner end of the plate extends a small armor lug 29, that is connected by a tension-spring 30 to a stationary pinor lug 31 on the throwing-arm, said spring tending normally to hold thejaw in direct alinement with the throwing-arm, but yielding, under theinfluence of centrifugal "force, during the movement of thethrowing-armv To the upper face of the plate 26 is l secured a curvedleaf-spring 33 in the form of l a strip of metal, one end of which isriveted l to the plate, while the strip follows the contour of the plateand the outer end termil nates at the outer end of one of the arms. j

The plate is further provided with a central arm 34, to the outer end ofwhich is pivoted an arm. 35, carrying a small cylindrical block. l37,1ormed of rubber or similar material, that projects to a point abovethe level of the plate and forms one of the target-clamping members. Thepivot-arm is further provided with a slot 40, arranged on an arcuateline, and through this rod. passes a threaded. pin 11, one end of whichis bolted to the main plate 26. The threaded end of the pin receives aclamping-nut 43, which when tightened will hold the arm and theyieldable block in any position to which they may have been adjusted.The construction is such that the rubber block may be adjusted towardand from the leaf-spring for the purpose of clamping targets ofdi'fl'erent size and to some extent controlling the rotativemovement ofthe target.

In operation, the target having been placed in position, stress isexerted on the operating cord or chain 13 and the spring 12 isstretched, being placed under stress, while the longer arm is confinedin place by the l l l l l l l l trigger 19. 'I/Vhen the spring has beenexpanded to an extent sufficient to bring the l lower end of said springinto engagement j with the arm 21 of the trigger, the latter will bemoved to disengage the pawl 16, and the spring then under stress willsuddenly throw l t 1e arm around with the shaft 8 as a center and thetarget will be ejected by centrifugal force, the spring 33 movingslightly outward and at the same time acting as a stationary surface forengagement with the edge of the target, the latter being revolved inadvance of its flight by engagement with the yieldable block. Whenstress is relieved on the spring 12, the auxiliary spring 11 willrestore the throwing-arm to its initial position and the pawl 16 willride over the trigger 19 and the parts will be again automaticallyplaced in position for the reception of another target.

It is obvious that the power-spring serves not only as the propellingmedium for the throwing-arm, but also serves as a check for limitingmovement of the arm, such movement ceasing when the spring has beenrestored to its normal dimensions, one end in contact with the lower endof the casing and the opposite end in contact with the shorter arm 10.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In atarget-carrier provided with a flat base, a curved flat spring-stripdisposed sub stantially perpendicular to said base and forming one ofthe clamping members, and an adjustable block of yieldable materialforming the second clamping member.

2. In a target-carrying aw, a leatspring forming one of the clampingmembers, a block l forming the second clamping member, and apivotally-mounted adjustable arm carrying said block.

3. In a target-carrying jaw, a U-shaped plate, a yieldable springarranged at one side thereof and forming a clamping member, apivotally-mounted arm having an arcuate slot, a threaded pin carried bythe plate and extending through the slot, a clamping-nut on saidthreaded pin, and a yieldable block carried by said arm and forming asecond clamping member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. MGCREA.

I/Vitnesses J. WV. HAGNY, D. E. HARPOLE.

